A vending machine that is not working is not earning. The good news is that most downtime comes from a short list of problems that a trained owner can prevent or fix in minutes — jammed coils, a dirty bill acceptor, a card reader that has lost its connection, a condenser full of dust. This guide gives you a practical maintenance schedule, the most common repairs, real replacement part prices, and clear guidance on when to call a technician.
- Most vending machine repairs are simple: coils, motors, payment devices and dirty condensers.
- A 10-minute check on every restocking visit prevents most service calls.
- Common parts are inexpensive — a single coil motor is $23 and a coil from $10.
- Refrigeration work and electrical faults inside the control system should go to a qualified technician.
- New FGS machines come with a 2-year warranty and lifetime technical support.
Why maintenance pays for itself
Every day a machine sits broken costs you that day’s sales — and possibly the location, if the host gets tired of an “out of order” sign. A machine netting $300 a month earns about $10 a day; a week of downtime waiting for a part wipes out a month of careful price optimisation. Preventive maintenance is the cheapest insurance an operator can buy.
That is why we train every buyer at delivery to handle everyday fixes, and why we stock genuine replacement parts in our parts store. As one long-time operator put it in a review on our site, “They get you the parts you need in 24 hours.”
A simple vending machine maintenance schedule
| How often | Task |
|---|---|
| Every restocking visit | Wipe the glass, keypad and delivery bin; test-vend a few selections; check the temperature display; empty and check coin and bill paths; confirm the card reader shows online |
| Weekly (busy sites) | Rotate stock and remove anything close to expiry; check for jams on slow-moving coils; clean spills inside the cabinet |
| Monthly | Vacuum the condenser coil and vents; check door seals; inspect power cord and outlet; review telemetry or sales data for selections that stopped selling |
| Every 3–6 months | Deep clean trays and coils; check levelling legs; inspect the coin mechanism and bill acceptor rollers; update price labels |
| Yearly | Have a technician inspect the refrigeration system and electrical components, especially on older machines |
Keep a simple log for each machine: date, task, problem found, part used. Patterns jump out quickly — and a clean maintenance record helps when you sell or trade in the machine.
The most common vending machine repairs
1. Products not dropping (jammed or misaligned coils)
The number-one complaint. Usually a product loaded in the wrong coil size, a coil out of position, or a bent coil. Re-seat the coil, match products to the right coil depth, and replace damaged coils. Our vending machine not dispensing guide walks through it step by step.
2. A selection that never turns (motor failure)
If one selection does nothing at all while others work, the coil motor or its connector is the usual suspect. Motors are inexpensive and plug in — a typical owner swap.
3. Bill acceptor rejecting notes
Dust and worn rollers cause most rejections. Clean the bill path with a lint-free cloth and the manufacturer-approved cleaning card. If rejections continue, the acceptor may need recalibration or replacement.
4. Coin mechanism jams or wrong change
Bent or foreign coins jam the mechanism; low tube levels cause “exact change” messages. Clear the jam, refill the tubes and check the coin-return lever.
5. Card reader offline
Most cashless problems are connectivity. Power-cycle the reader, check the antenna and signal, and confirm the data plan is active. If it still will not connect, the reader or its cable may need replacing.
6. Machine not cooling
Start with the basics: is the condenser clogged with dust, are the vents blocked, is the door seal tight, and is the machine too close to a wall? If cleaning does not restore temperature, call a technician — refrigeration repairs require a qualified refrigeration technician.
7. Keypad or display not responding
Check the connector first; a loose ribbon cable is common after a door impact. A failed keypad is a straightforward replacement.
8. Machine dead or tripping breakers
Check the outlet, the machine’s circuit breakers and fuse holder, and the power supply. A surge protector helps prevent repeat electrical damage. Anything beyond that should go to a technician.
Real replacement part prices
Here are list prices from our parts store (October 2026) for the parts operators replace most often:
| Part | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Single coil motor (FGS) | $23 |
| Double coil motor (FGS) | $32 |
| Coil (FGS, 14-deep) | $10 |
| Keypad (FGS) | $135 |
| Door switch | $9.99 |
| Power supply (FGS/VCM) | $130 |
| MEI bill acceptor | $450 |
| MEI CF7000 coin mechanism | $450 |
| Nayax card reader | $550 |
| Cooling control board (FGS) | $400 |
| Complete cooling unit (FGS3) | $1,300 |
| Surge protector | $14.99 |
Small parts are cheap; big-ticket repairs are the cooling unit and payment devices. That is a strong argument for keeping the condenser clean and protecting your machine from power surges.
DIY or call a technician?
Owner-friendly fixes
Coil jams and re-seating, coil and motor swaps, cleaning bill and coin paths, resetting a card reader, replacing a door switch or keypad, cleaning the condenser, swapping a fuse.
Call a technician
Refrigeration system faults and refrigerant work, control board diagnostics, wiring inside the electrical panel, repeated breaker trips, and anything you are not confident doing safely.
Always unplug the machine before working inside it. New Feel Good Snacks machines come with a 2-year warranty and lifetime technical support — call us before you start a repair you are unsure about.
Winter and seasonal care in Canada
Canadian conditions add a few extra checks. Keep machines indoors in heated spaces and within the manufacturer’s operating temperature range. Watch for condensation when a machine is moved from a cold truck into a warm building — let it stand before powering on, as the delivery crew will advise. In summer, warm rooms make cooling systems work harder, so condenser cleaning matters most from May to September. Thinking about your next machine? See all vending machines for sale, or compare new vs refurbished warranty coverage.
What operators say about Feel Good Snacks
“The Combo machine is a great machine. It works well and is easy to maintain. The tech support from this company is second to none. I have been in the business over 20 years and this is one of the best services I’ve come across. They get you the parts you need in 24 hours. Highly recommend!”
David Rudder · Enroute Vending, Brampton, ON
“It is very difficult to outline in a small paragraph all the help and guidance I have received from Fares and his team, the service has not stopped after I bought machines. The customer service I have received is unparalleled, and along with a fantastic product, will keep me coming back for years!”
Mairead MacCallum · In the Frame Rentals Ltd, Toronto
Reviews published on our About page. More in customer stories.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a vending machine be serviced?
Do a quick check on every restocking visit, clean the condenser monthly, deep clean every three to six months, and have a technician inspect the refrigeration and electrical systems about once a year.
Why is my vending machine not dropping products?
Usually a jammed or misaligned coil, a product loaded in the wrong coil size, or a failed coil motor. Re-seat the coil, match the product to the right coil depth, and replace damaged coils or motors.
How much does it cost to repair a vending machine?
Many common repairs are inexpensive — a single coil motor is $23 and a coil from $10 in our parts store. Payment devices cost more ($450 for a bill acceptor or coin mechanism, $550 for a card reader), and a complete cooling unit is $1,300 to $1,600.
Why is my vending machine not cooling?
The most common causes are a dusty condenser, blocked vents, a worn door seal or a machine placed too close to a wall. If cleaning does not fix it, call a qualified refrigeration technician.
Where can I buy vending machine parts in Canada?
Feel Good Snacks stocks genuine replacement parts — coils, motors, keypads, power supplies, bill acceptors, coin mechanisms, card readers, cooling boards and complete cooling units — in our online parts store, shipped across Canada.
Does Feel Good Snacks offer technical support?
Yes. New machines come with a 2-year warranty and lifetime technical support, and we train every buyer at delivery to handle everyday fixes.
Written & reviewed by the Feel Good Snacks team
Feel Good Snacks is a Canadian-owned vending machine supplier based in Mississauga, Ontario. We started out as vending operators ourselves and now have more than 15 years in the industry, with over 1,650 of our machines in market across Canada. Our new machines are ETL certified and backed by a 2-year warranty with lifetime technical support, and we stock genuine replacement parts.
Prices and specifications checked against our live catalogue on October 30, 2026. Earnings figures are estimates, not guarantees. About us · Customer stories · 1-866-711-5857 · info@feelgoodsnacks.ca
Keep reading
Vending Machine Not Dispensing? Fix Guide
Read the guide →
Need a part or a hand with a repair?
Call 1-866-711-5857 or browse genuine replacement parts — and when it’s time for a new machine, we’ll deliver, install and support it anywhere in Canada.